Burial box



Nov. 21, 1939.

A. F. HOWE BURIAL BOX Filed Dec. 29, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. F. HOWE Nov. 2l, 1939.

BURIAL BOX Filed Deo. 29, 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIJxIIIIIIMwIIIIIIIIIIJJ. m

Patented ov. 21A,

UNITED STATES BURIAL BOX Y vAndrew EIowe, University Apelieatie Deeember 29, 1193s,'. serial Ne.'24s,147

6 claims.' (ci. `"z2-v) This invention relates to burial boxes. Objects of the invention are to provide an improved burial box of the type used to enclosethe usual caskets, which box is composed of rein-'-` bly of the box Within the grave preparatory for the application ofthe lid or cover; to provide a box of this character -having va vlid inclining in :l opposite directions from the center so that water is caused to move orflow from the lid to the sides of the box; and'to provide such a burial Fig. 2 is a side elevation. I

Fig. 3 is a top plan view-.of the complete box. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the boxbefore the lid is applied thereto. Fig. 5 is an end elevation.`

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 ef Fig. 3. f

Fig. 7 isla sectional view showing -a dierent form of joint between the outer edges of the'lidv i and the upper edges of the side walls ofthe box.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged View showing a detail of the joint formation on'the ends of the end walls for engagement with the adjacent ends of the side walls of the box( 40 Fig. 9 is a view showing further details of the interlocking joints securing the side walls to the end walls of the box.

" Fig. 10 is an end view of a portion of oneof the side walls showing the constructionthereof for interlocking engagement with the end wall of the box. i

The entire box is composed yof concrete slabs shaped and formed in order to provide portions for'cooperative engagement with 'the adjacent portions of other slabs to hold al1 of the slabs in assembled relationship so that, when the box is yformed and placed in use, `Vthe various slabs cannot readily become detached or'moved 'apart'. The-individual slabs of concrete embed reinforcv ing means,-such ais-interlocking rods-'or'woven screenfwhich diminish likelihood of damage or deformation.

'The side wall slabs embed the reinforcing elements 52 of crossed rods or wires which may Vbein the form of screen material or the like.

These slabs extend the full length of the box and have vspaced supporting shoulders 3 near their upper margins which extend inwardly.

vvThe -vertical end slabs 4 are also composed of y l concrete and embed vsimilar reinforcing mate- 10 rials. YThe upper "edges of the end slabs incline upwardly and rearwardly from the side edges thereof to points 5. vThe two slabs`6 forming the `lidreor cover of the box are laid upon Vthe upper edgesof the end walls and incline downwardly inv 15 y l oppositedirections to seat upon the upper edges of the sidewalls! and embed reinforcements 'I similar to the reinforcements 2. vDoWnwa-rdly extended ianges 8 --forrned integral with the slabs l engage against the inside of the upper margins 2o of Ythe side slabs 2 and hold the lid slabs 6 in a relationship in which the adjacent edges thereof are `vin fclose contact to-form a substantially hermeticor leakproof joint and in which vthe lowerfedges thereof extend outwardly over the 25 upper edges vof the side `slabs l (Figs. 5 and 6). Downwardly-'extended flanges 9 integral with the-end margins ofthe cover slabs 6 engage against the inner sidesvof the endfslabs 4 and hold said slabsfrom. endwise displacementf Cross 30v members l0 are seated upon the shoulders 3 .and have upperredges inclining in accordance with the inclination ofthe'slabs 6 and engage against theeundersides -of transverse ribs or anges Il formed in connection with the inner. sides of the 3'5 slabs 6 so as to support kthe intermediate portions of said slabs.

The bottom ofthe box comprises two slabs l2 and I3 composed ofconcrete or-the likeand em` bedding` metallic reinforcing elements I4 of 40 crossed rods or wires or. screen material, such as the reinforcements 2 and 1. Each of the bottom slabs is formedl with an upwardlyextended ange l5 near/its outer side margin and with a transverse v'flangel near 'each end margin. These 45 anges 'arespaced inwardly from the outer edges and v ends of 'the' slabs'a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the side wall slabs land the'endwa'llslabs 4y respectively so that, when said side-and end slabs are assembled upon the 50 bottom slabs, they seat upon the bottomslabs lat the outer sides of the anges l5 and I6 respectively andare held from inward movement thereby. At spaced intervals, thebottom slabs have integral upwardlyextended supporting anges I1 55 the inner ends of which are connected by anges I8 extending along the inner edges of the bottom slabs between the flanges I1. The ends of the bottom slabs are formed with inwardly extended flanges I9, and all of the anges I'I, I8 and I9 cooperate to strengthen the bottom slabs and also function to support the casket above and out of direct contact with the bottom slabs of the box.

The side wall slabs I and the end wall slabs 4 are interlocked in such a way as to prevent any of said Walls from becoming disarranged and to prevent collapse of the box. The ends of the side wall slabs I are formed with tenon extensions 20 which seat against the ends of the end slabs 4. The lower edges 2| of the tenon extensions 20 incline downwardly andfoutwardly from' theends of the side walls I and'incline downwardly and inwardly from the outer surfaces of n the side walls I (Figs. 9 and 10). The ends of the end slabs 4 are formed with tenon extensions 22 which seat against the ends of the side walls I. The upper edges of the tenon extensions 22 are formed with Walls 23 complementary to the walls 2|. The walls 23 inclinev upwardly and outwardly `from the ends of the slabs 4 and incline downwardly and outwardly from the inner surfaces of said slabs 4. When the side and end wall slabs are assembled-,upon the bottom slabs of the box, the tenon extensions 2D seat upon the tenon extensions 22 and the tenon walls ZI and 23 interlock so that it is impossible for the walls to'become disarranged or collapse. The only way in which the box can be disassembled is to raise the -side walls I vertically to disengage-the tenon devices 2E! from interlocking devices of the tenon devices 2,2. By this interlocking tenon arrangement, the side and end walls of the box are held rigidly upon the bottom slabs in position to -receive the transverse supporting members IU and the cover slabs 6 to-complete the box.

In the box already described, the joints of the respective parts are made to t vtogether accu-v rately. It will be apparent that any sealing substance or material may be applied to the joints to make the b ox almost completely impervious. In the modification shown in Fig. 7, ythe upper edges of the side slabs if are rounded so as to facilitatethe placing of the vtop slabs 6 thereon. In thisconstruction, a sealing substance 24 may be applied in the joint formed lby the slabs I and theslabs 6. Y

. The parts of myimproved burial box may be manufactured in quantities and kept in storage for use as required. My invention dispenses with the use of boltsA and rivets and other fastening devices commonly used in assembling burial boxes of all types with which I am familiar and which are now used. These slabs may be manufactured and transported ,at lowcost because of the fact that the usualV protruding fastening devices are omitted, and also because lthe slabs may bev laid latwise one lupon the other. When properly reinforced, the slabs may be made comparatively thin ,and are, therefore, notv so heavy as to requirey the use of derricks and other hoisting mechanisms in vtransporting or in placing the box in position for use.

The invention may bev varied `within the scope of equivalent limits Without departure from the nature and principle thereof.

I claim:

1. In a burial box having all of its walls composed of concrete slabs, anges extending upwardly from the bottom of the box and spaced,

inwardly from the edges thereof, the side and end slabs of the box being seated upon the bottom at the outer sides of said flanges, interlocking and holding the adjacent longitudinal edges of said slabs in abutting contact.

2. In a burial box having all of its walls composed of concrete slabs, iianges extending upwardly from the bottom of the box and spaced inwardly from the sides thereof, the side and end slabs of the box being seated upon the bottom at the outer sides of said flanges, interlocking tenon devices integral with the ends of the side and end slabs holding them in vertical positions upon the bottom as aforesaid, a pair of longitudinal cover slabs extending the full length ofI the box `seated upon the upper edges of the side and end slabs, cross members cooperating with the side and end walls to support said cover slabs, anges integral with the undersides of said cover slabs engaging against the inner surfaces of the side and end slabs of the box and holding the adjacent longitudinal edges of said slabs in abutting contact, vertical flanges extending upwardly from the bottom of the box for strengthening the same and supporting a casket, and spaced transverse supporting members carried by the side slabs of thebox and supporting intermediate portions ofthe cover slabs.

3. In a burial box comprising bottom, side, end, and a pair of duplicate longitudinal cover Walls all of which are composed of concrete slabs; interlocking tenon devices integral with said side` and end walls preventing lateral displacement of either of said Walls when said walls are assembled upon the bottom wall, means integral with the bottom wall Vengaging said side and end walls cooperating with said tenon devices to hold allvof saidlwalls in rigid relationship, elements supported by said side walls supporting intermediate portions of said cover walls, and means for holding thel cover walls of said box from lateral displacement upon said side and endr walls and engaging said side and end walls to prevent lateral displacement thereof.

4. In a burial box comprising bottom, side, end, and a pair of longitudinal cover walls all of which are composed of concrete slabs; parts on said side and end walls respectively abutting against the outer ends of the adjacent end and side walls respectively, interlocking tenon `devices integral with the side and end walls preventing lateral displacement of said side and end walls from eachother and holding said walls in vertical position upon the bottom walls of the box, elements cooperatingwith said end walls and said side walls to support said cover walls in edgewise,

abutting contact and inclined downwardly in opposite directions towards the side of the box, and means in connection with said cover walls engaging the inner surfaces of the side and end walls and holding the cover Walls from lateral and longitudinal,displacement and the side and end walls from inward movement. p

5. Ina burial box comprising bottom, side, end, -anda pair of longitudinal cover walls all of which are composed of concrete slabs; parts on said side and end walls respectively abutting' against the outer ends of the adjacent end and side walls respectively, interlocking tenon devices integral with the side and end walls preventing lateral displacement of said side and end walls from each other and holding said walls in vertical position upon the bottom walls of the box, means in connection with said cover walls engaging the inner surfaces of the side and end walls and holding the cover walls from lateral and longitudinal displacement and the side and end walls from inward movement, and detachable supporting members mounted on said side walls and engaging and supporting said cover walls between the ends thereof.

6. In a box comprising bottom, side, and end Walls, all of which are composed of concrete slabs; interlocking tenon devices integral with said side and end walls preventing lateral displacement of either of said walls when they are assembled upon the bottom wall, means integral with said bottom wall engaging said side and end walls and cooperating with said tenori devices to hold all of said walls in rigid relationship, a pair of longitudinal cover slabs extending the full length of the box, upwardly extended portions integral with said end walls supporting said slabs in edgewise abutting contact and inclining downwardly and laterally toward the sides of the box,

elements supported by said side walls engaging and supporting intermediate portions of said cover walls, and means for holdingr said cover walls from lateral and longitudinal displacement.

ANDREW F. HOWE. 

